STEVE Bruce today said that Newcastle were reaping the benefit of Nicky Butt's spell at Blues.

Butt spent the Premiership relegation campaign on loan to Blues and, according to Bruce, left with his head held high.

"I just think he needed to play," said the Blues boss, who had a bust-up with Butt after choosing his son, Alex, to play instead of him at West Ham United in February.

"In the couple of seasons he had at Manchester United towards the end he was playing about 20 games.

"The season he had with us, being a regular, Newcastle have benefited from that. He's been one of their best performers, by all accounts.

"He had a great attitude for it. He might have been disappointed with his form from time to time, but he never gave up the fight. He went down with his boots on and that's all I could ask in the situation we were in.

"The way he conducted himself - I know we had that row before West Ham - he was top class. Halfway through the season he took himself away for a training camp, paid for it himself, because he knew he was a bit down on match fitness.

"If they all had had his attitude for it, we might still be there in the Premiership now. He's a proper bloke, Nick."

Butt is among those on Newcastle's whopping 13-strong injury list and trying to shake off an ankle injury.